Red Kite

I only manage to see Red Kite twice a year, and most of those sightings are along the motorway between Dublin and Wexford.  This morning while travelling the road between Rathdrum and Avoca, through the Vale of Avoca in Wicklow, I counted 12 individuals.  The majority were wearing wing tags as you can see from these shots, but one bird in Avoca village had clear wings and no tags.

 

Red Kites, Wicklow John N Murphy

Yellow-legged Gull

This adult Yellow-legged Gull Larus argentatus michahellis seems to have taken up residency in Dungarvan Ton over the last year. Anytime I visit he is always along the same stretch of seafront near the Pitch & Putt course.

Yellow-legged Gull John N Murphy

Oystercatchers

These Oystercatchers were feeding along the tideline in Kilbaha harbour, back west at Loop Head today.

Oystercatchers, Loop Head John N Murphy

Black-necked & Slavonian Grebes

I was working in Dungarvan, Waterford during the week and went down at lunchtime to Ballynacourty Pier to see the Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes that have been present there for the last couple of weeks.  Here are a few shots of these birds from late this afternoon with bad light conditions making it difficult to get sharp clear images.

 

 

Slavonian & Black-necked Grebes at Dungarvan John N Murphy

 

Brambling Winter

It's been a really good winter for Brambling with small flocks in woodlands around Ennis especially.  Here are a few shots of a small flock of 12 birds at Ballyallia Stud Farm from last weekend.

 Brambling and Treecreeper at Ballyallia John N Murphy

Lesser Short-toed Lark

Here are a few shots of Lesser Short-toed Larks from my recent trip to Lanazarote.  I came upon massive flocks of these birds (500-600) in cultivated fields North west of Teguise.

Lesser Short-toed Lark near Teguise, Lanzarote John N Murphy